Remember Me - Luke 23:42

Luke the beloved physician wrote when Jesus was hanging on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If you be the king of the Jews, save yourself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you be the Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse forty-two of his book Luke shared how the second malefactor says to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom” where we read:

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

The verse reads, “And he said unto Jesus, ...” Luke began with the words, “And he said” or “and the second malefactor uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto Jesus” which means “to the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”. Luke shared how the “second criminal” who was crucified beside Jesus declared the following words to Him.

The verse goes on to say, “... Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke added the word, “Lord” which means “One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”, “remember me” or “recall to mind and be mindful of me, the second malefactor” “when you come into your kingdom” which means “at the time and moment you, Jesus, enter and appear into your, Jesus', royal power, kingship, dominion and rule”. Luke shared how the “second malefactor” told Jesus to “be mindful” of him at the time He entered into His “royal power and rule”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “second malefactor” wanted Jesus to “remember” him at the time He entered into His “kingdom”. In other words, He was a believer in Jesus. This “second criminal”, who was justifiably being crucified for his crimes, knew Jesus was indeed the “King” of the Jews, and his desire was to be with Jesus in His “kingdom”. God wants all people to be in His “Kingdom”, and only those who receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will gain entrance. Those who are wise will consider the words of the “second malefactor” and ask Jesus to “remember” them when it is time to “enter” His “Kingdom”.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells the second malefactor, “Today shall you be with me in paradise”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".